Chilled fruit soup with tender apple chunks, plump raisins, and warm cinnamon sticks simmered in apple cider. A splash of brandy and brown sugar add sophistication. Serve cold as a refreshing starter or dessert.
Spiced Mexican coffee simmered with dark brown sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla. Includes a flambeed Cafe Diablo variation with brandy and Kahlua.
Tiramisu from scratch: Italian sponge soaked in espresso-brandy syrup, layered with a silky Marsala zabaglione mascarpone cream, and dusted with cinnamon and coffee. A refined take on the classic.
Savory crepe flavorings with brandy, fresh herbs, and lemon zest stirred into melted butter. A simple mix-in guide that turns basic crepe batter into restaurant-worthy main course wraps.
Homemade ravioli filled with seasoned chicken, sage, mace, and Parmesan, topped with a quick tomato basil sauce. An Italian classic with a lighter white meat filling and a splash of brandy for depth.
Nana Moon's traditional Christmas pudding: brandy-soaked dried fruit, suet and breadcrumbs steamed for hours into a dark, rich pudding, flamed with brandy and served with brandy butter.
Portuguese garlic chicken slow-cooked with port wine, brandy, ham, golden raisins, and six cloves of garlic, then broiled golden. A rich slow cooker showpiece.
Tender butter cookies studded with chopped fresh strawberries and scented with nutmeg and brandy, dusted in powdered sugar. Little jewel-like bites that melt on the tongue.
Greek oil cake (gliko tapsiou me ladi) is a dairy-free, egg-free spice cake made with olive oil, orange juice, walnuts, and raisins. Naturally vegan and Lenten-friendly.
Greek semolina cake with almonds soaked in cinnamon-orange syrup, scored into diamonds. Traditional Mediterranean dessert.
If you want to enjoy a great light drink after Christmas dinner, try this creamy eggnog that will even have Grandma singing Christmas carols.
Brandy-soaked apple fritters in a light, airy batter with cinnamon and ginger, deep-fried golden and dusted with powdered sugar. Served warm with chilled whipped cream.
Stuffed French toast with crumbled tofu, brandy-soaked raisins, currants, and candied peel. Pan-fried golden in butter. A showstopping weekend brunch that freezes beautifully.
Steakhouse pan-broiled steak done right in a cast iron skillet, salted ahead and seared in its own beef fat for a deep crust, then finished with a quick red wine and brandy pan sauce mounted with butter.
Caramelized onion and basil pasta with five pounds of sweet onions slow-cooked into a golden, jammy sauce deglazed with brandy. Tossed with fresh basil and Parmesan. Simple and stunning.
Calves liver seared in bacon drippings and topped with soft onions, raisins, brandy, and a splash of cider vinegar. A 30-minute spin on a classic that even liver skeptics might love.